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Update on Abbey

Per our neuro at the U, we had Abbey's lumbar xray on Friday, and she also got a full dental done as well. Her teeth look fabulous, white as a puppy!
The good news is that we're now only dealing with one issue as her lumbar xray came back totally normal. We also had her knees xrayed as she's been biting at her legs. They came back totally normal as well. So, as we suspected, we now know that we have to move forward with the MRI as her symptoms are still happening and our vet has no explanation for them other than possibly SM. We're still researching our options for the MRI, but intend to have it scheduled sooner than later so we can understand what we're dealing with.

This is great news that you are getting some definitive answers to narrow down what you are dealing with. Let us know what you decide on for the MRI and if/when it is scheduled. We will all be rooting for Abbey!

Jen, if you go for the MRI, can I suggest that you go for the full one (if you can afford it, or the insurance will pay). Maxx only has a slight herniation but does have a syrinx right at the bottom of his spine. this was not picked up on x-ray and nor would it have been picked up on a 'parti' MRI.

I'd hate for you to pay out for an MRI and be told Abbey is clear and for her to have a similar problem to Maxx.

MRI

We are doing a full MRI, because yes, she is sensitive in her lower back. She doesn't yelp, but when the neuro was putting presure on that area she'd quickly sit. Who knows if she thinks this is what you want her to do or if it's actually a sensitive area, but with a full MRI we'll hopefully find out what's going on.
She has the typical neck scatching, face rubbing, limb chewing behaviors as well. We didn't know the lower back was a potential issue until we saw the neuro.

She sounds almost identical in symptoms to maxx, Jen :~( However, it's not all bad. The Frusemide seem to be making a real improvement to him and he hardly has any problems now - long may it last and I hope if Abbey is positive then she is the same

Bottom scooting
Sitting down and rolling backwards, trying to bite his back paws. Not being able to reach them and crying in pain.
Being in so much pain his temperature was going so high that his gums were blood red and burning
Licking paws obsessively.
Scratching his ears and crying.
Being really lethargic and generally 'down in the dumps'.

I really can't emphasise enough how much better he is on Frusemide. He is on 20mg a day and it really does seem to be working - Long may it last!

I have also put him onto a hypo-allergenic diet (James Wellbeloved) & bought him some 'joint formula' with chondroitin, glucosamine and ester-c.

maxx

Donna how old is Maxx? When did you first notice his symptoms?
I need to start paying attention to Abbey's gums, sometimes they seem pretty red
Her new thing this past week is to roll on her back while she's smooshing the sides of her face into the rug. She only does it in the mornng when she first wakes up. :cry:

Maxx has always done that, Jen. But, to be truthful I have never worried about it as my GSD used to do it too. It's when he 'face rubs' the ceramic tiles in the bathrooms it upsets me as he 'smashes' his face down into them

Oh yes, Maxx is 6 on the 21st of this month and he probably really started with his symptoms around 6 mths ago but he has always bottom scooted. We used to think it was his glands and I was forever getting the vet to empty them